Device for converting motion



(N0 Model.)

G. J. ALTHAM. DEVICE FOR GONVERTING MOTION. No. 273,699. Patented Mar.13,1883.

WITNESSES: Q/Zy, 6. INVENTOR:

- 6 ATTORNEYS;

N. PETERS. Pmwmhn m hnr. Washington. D. c.

UNTTEE STATES PATENT EETQE.

GEORGE J. ALTHAM, OF SWANSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE FOR CONVERTING MOTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,699, dated March13, 1883.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. ALTHAM, of Swansea, in the county ofBristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and ImprovedDevice for Converting Motion, of which the following is a fall, clear,and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved device forconverting reciprocatin g into rotary motion, the reciprocatingmovements being parallel with the longitudinal axis of the rotary shaftto which the motion is transmitted.

The invention consists in the combination, with a shaft having oppositecranks connected by a diagonal arm, of a connecting-rod terminating in afork having the ends of its shanks journaled on the ends of the diagonalshaft, which connecting-rod passes loosely to turn, but not to slide,within a sleeve adapted to slide in a rocking box on the end of thereciprocating piston-rod, whereby the reciprocating motion of thepiston-rod will be converted into rotary motion in the shaft, as will bemore fully described hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a plan view of my improved device for converting motion.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsectional elevation of the sleeve of the connecting-rod.

The cylinder A is so located that its pistonrod B will be parallel withthe shaft 0, to which the converted motion of the reciprocatingpiston-rod B is to be transmitted. The shaft 0 may be provided with aflywheel, D; or a propeller may be mounted on the end of the same, ordevices may be mounted on the same for transmitting the motion toanother shaft. A cross-head, E, sliding on tracks E in the usual manner,but parallel with the shaft 0, is at- The.

through which the connecting-rod H passes, which is provided with anannular groove, a, into which an annular internal ridge, 1), of thesleeve G passes, whereby the connecting-rod H cannot move longitudinallyin the sleeve G, but can turn in the same. The connecting-rod H isprovided at one end with a fork, J, the shanks of which terminate ineyes holding journal-boxes K, through which the ends of a diagonalshaft, L, pass, which diagonal shaft connects two opposite arms orcranks, M, of the shaft 0, which arms have the outer ends of their innersurfaces beveled parallel with each other, so that the ends of thediagonal shaft L will be at right angles to the inner surfaces of thecranks M, to which they are rigidly secured. The middle of the diagonalshaft L is made parallel with the shafts C, so that the middle of thesaid shaft L can be supported byajournal-box,N, resting on a suitablestandard or support.

The operation is as follows: If the cranks M are in position shown inFig. 1, and the piston-rod B moves in the direction of the arrow a, thatarm of the fork J- nearest the fly wheel D will press on the arm Mnearest the fly-wheel D, and that shank of the fork J farthest from thefly-wheel D will draw on the arm M farthest from the fly-wheel. Thepressure of the end of the shank of the fork J can- 'not exert itselfparallel with the shaft (J, but

presses the arm M upward or downward until the same has described half acircle, the movement of which is at right angles to the shaft 0, and theother shank of the fork Jdraws on the other arm, M, of the shaft 0, andturns the same either upward or downward in a halfcircle at right anglesto the shaft B. Then it completes the circle during the return movementof the piston-rod B in the inverse direction of the arrow at. That shankof the fork J that formerly pushed now pulls, and the one that pullednow pushes. In this manner the reciprocating motion of the piston-rod Bis changed into a rotary motion in the shaft 0. A continuation of theconnecting-rod H in all cases would strike the middle of the diagonalshaft L, and the connecting-rod H will oscillate forward and backward ina horizontal plane, the middle of the diagonal shaft L form- IOC ing thecenter on which the connecting-rodH I 3. The combination, with the shaft0, proswings. As the said connecting-rod H always swings in a horizontalplane, and as the ends of the shanks of the fork are alternately onopposite sides of the shaft 0, the free end of the connecting-rod H willmove in the arc of a circle; and as the ends of the shanks of the fork Jare alternately above and below the shaft 0, the connecting-rod H willbe oscillated on its longitudinal axis. For these reasons theconnecting-rod H must be adapted to turn in the sleeve G, and the saidsleeve Gr must be adapted to slide in the box F, which is pivoted sothat it can adapt itself to the different inclinations of theconnecting-rod H in relation to the shaft 0. I have shown but one pistoncombined with the shaft 0; but two can be combined with it'as well-oneon each side-and theabove-described device for converting motion may beconnected with any kind of engine. It is especially-adapted for use inscrew-propeller vessels, as the pistons will then occupy but very littlespace, for they can be placed parallel with the shaft O and very-closeto the same.

Having thus fully described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by'Letters Patent- 1. The combination,with a shaft'having opposite cranks connected by a diagonal shaft, of aconnecting-rod terminating in a fork journaled on the ends of thediagonal shaft, substantially as herein shown and described,wherebyreciprocating motion applied on the connecting-rod will be convertedinto rotary motion in the shaft, as set forth.

2. The combination, with a shaft having opposite cranks connected by adiagonal shaft, of a connecting-rod terminating in a fork having itsends journaled on the ends of the diagonal shaft, and of a rocking boxheld in the crosshead of the connecting-rod and adapted to re ceive thefree end of the connecting-rod, substantially as herein shownand-.describe('l, and for the purpose set forth.

vided with the opposite cranks M, connected by the diagonal shaft L, ofthe connecting-rod H, terminating in the fork J,having its endsjournaled on the ends of the diagonal shaft L, the rocking box Fou thecross-head E, and the sliding sleeve Gin thecross-head,which sleevesurrounds the connecting-rod H. substantially as herein shown anddescribed, and for the 'purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with the shaft 0, provided with the opposite cranksM, connected by the diagonal shaft L, of the rod H, terminating in thefork J, having its endsjournaled on the ends of the diagonal shaft L,the rocking box F on the cross-head E, and the sliding sleeve G,provided with an annular internal ridge, 12, passing into an annulargroove, 0., in the connecting-rod H, substantially as herein shown anddescribed, and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with the shaft 0, of the crank-arms M,havingtheirinner surfaces diagonal to the shaft 0, the diagonal shaft L,having its ends attached to theinner surface of the cranks M, at theends of the same, the connecting-rod H, terminatingin the forkJ,journaled on the shaft L, and of devices for reciprocating the end ofthe connectingrod H, substantially as herein shown and described, andfor the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with the shaft 0, provided with opposite cranks M,connected by the diagonal shaft L, of the connecting rod H, terminatingin the fork J,journaled on the ends of the shaft L, the devices forreciprocating the free end of the rod H, and of thejournal box orhearing N, supporting the middle of the diagonal shaft L, substantiallyas herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE J ALTHAM.v

